Results (1) Pre-intervention, individuals reporting more incivility on their unit showed a stronger stressor–strain relationship. (2) The negative relationship between work overload and mental health was mitigated among intervention group staff 6 months after the introduction of a colleague-based civility programme.

Conclusions Besides being a stressor itself, incivility exacerbates the relationship between existing job role stressors and strain among health care workers.

Implications for nursing management Colleague civility and respect have an important ripple effect of buffering inevitable work stressors, helping health care providers respond to stress with greater health and resiliency.